Display device



June 30, 1931. BOWER 1,812,318 1 DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 1. 1929 3111; Hot

WQBawer aw Qmww Patented June 30, 1931 WILLIAM C. BOWER, OF BELL, CALIFORNIA DISPLAY DEVICE Application ed April 1,1929. Serial No. 351,717.

My invention relates to a means for exliibiting'or displaying goods, wares or other articles of merchandise or the packages in which they are contained and it has more es- .5 pecial reference to a simple, convenient and practical device by which articles of commerce may be supported in the most artistic fashion and displayed to best advantage.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to provide a display support of the type referred to, of simple construction, and economical manufacture, which will form an invisible support for the goods or wares to be displayed thereon, and which will hold the goods or wares in the positions best suited for attractive and inviting exhibition; which will support the goods firmly and upon which the goods may be quickly placed.

These and other objects will .appear from the subjoined specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof and illustrating a preferred form of embodiment of the invention. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of an alternative form, I Fig. 3 is a side view on a reduced scale, illustrating the manner in which the form shown in Fig. 1 may be used for displaying merchandise,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing my invention as used for displaying a package or bottle, and

Fig. 5 is an elevational view looking from the left of Fig. 1 and showing my invention as used for supporting .and displaying placards or exhibiting matter of any description.

In a generic sense, the invention consists of a stand, holder or support having two branches spaced apart and forming substantially an inverted V, the respective free ends of the branches being provided or formed with means for conveniently and securely supporting and holding an article that is to be displayed, and one of said branches having means by which an article may be positively held in position for display.

ably though not necessarily of In a more specific sense, the invention in the form illustrated is shown as comprising a holder orsupport formed of a sheet of preferably resilient material, bent upon itself to provide a pair of branches 2 and 3 preferunequal lengths, the branch 2, which is the shorter, approximately close to the vertical for the purpose of supporting placards or other exhibitory devices 4 in such a position that distortion will not occur and that it may readily be viewed. The end of the shorter branch 2, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, is rolled upon itself, as shown at 6 to provide a resilient means or device by which a placard or other advertising medium or display may be securely held thereby against the surface 8 of said branch 2. This rolled or curled end 6 may be unrolled by any suitable device to increase the space between it and the surface 8 of the branch 2 to accommodate a plurality of placards or thicker ones, as the case may be,

and for this purpose the holder is preferably made of substantial, but readily bendable material whereby the angularity of the respective branches 2 and 3 may be altered to suit the conditions required by the display exhibited or supported thereby, and the cooperating complements may be flexed to adj ust them to requirements of the articles supported by them. The face of the roll or bend .6 may also subserve the purpose of advertisement of any desirable nature, such as the name of the dealer, and advertisements may be imprinted or otherwise inscribed thereupon or may be contained upon a suitable label 10 which is applied to the outer surface of the roll or bend 6 and may readily be replaced, when desired. See Fig. 5.

The branch 8 of the inverted V-shaped holder, stand or support is at an angle to the vertical and preferably at a less acute angle than is the branch 2, the inclination of the branch 3 being such that an article or container 12, such as shown in Fig. 4, may rest conveniently against the surface 14 of the branch 3 and be securely supported thereby and displayed to best advantage. The branch 3 is provided with a lip 16, which forms a rest for the article or containers, and

this lip may be formed upon the branch by bending the end thereof upon itself substantially at'right angles or at such an angle most adapted for the securesupport of the articles. The outer corners of said lip or rest 16 are preferably acuminate and directed inwardly toward the plane of the surface 14 as shown at 18 for the purpose of preventing the accidental dislodgment of an article therefrom 0 when the article, such as shown for example at 12 is placed upon the branch 3 and rests upon thelip 16 and between the upturned corners 18. These acuminate corners 18 are also provided 5 an article or container thatis of considerably greater width than the lip 16 and consequently overhangs the same, and thereby prevent ing such article from slipping or sliding away from the holder. 1 0 r F or the purpose .of displaying articles which because of their flexibility or peculiar shape cannot be convenientlysupported upon the holder, I provide a means for engaging such articles and connecting them to the J holder so that they will be securely held and steadied thereby. Such a means may consist of a resilient tongue or member 20 provided in any desirable manner on the rear of the larger branch 3 of the holder and fastened thereto at one end. /Vhen using the holder for displaying articles of irregular shape and which are difficult to support in most advantageous position,'the holder is so positioned that'the larger branch 3 thereof rests 5 upon the floor or other surface of a display space. This position is illustrated in Fig. 3, wherefrom it will be seen that the article to be exhibited is invertedbetween the surface 24 of the branch'andthe narrow tongue or member 20, whi'ch because of its resiliency, securely engages one partof. the article, such as ashoe 22, while theother part thereof rests against and is supported by the complementary branch'2. Thetongueor other resilient member 20 may'constitute an integral part of the branch 3", in which case it'is struck from such branch, as shown in Fig. 2, or it may comprise a separate member which may be riveted or otherfor the purpose of engaging.

wise secured to said branch or rest as shown v bers of uneq-nai length and disposed at different angles to the vertical, the ends of both of said members provided with display engagingand supporting means and one of said members having a resilient means for engaging andsupporting irregular articles for display, said device being alternatively adapted .to display articles both when positioned upil clight, as a rack, or on either side, .When lying at.

.3. A display device of the character described comprising a pair of conjoined members adapted to be adjusted toward and away from each other, means on the lower ends of each of said members for supporting articles of different character, and means positioned on the inner side of one of said members for supporting still another article when said device rests on said member, sai-ddev'ice being alternatively adapted to display articles both when positioned upright, as a rack, or on 7 either side, when lying flat.

In testimony whereof I have signed name to this specification.

WILLIAM .c. Bowen.

in Fig. 3, the face 1 1 being provided with a lip 16 and inwardly directed portions 18,

as in the other form of my invention."

While I have thus described my invention with great particularity, it will be clear that the same may be modified throughout a wide range. I accordingly donot propose to be limited to the exact details of construction 0 in practice to make any and described and claimed but reserve the right all modifications thatfall within the scope of the appended claims.

'I claimxas my invention: 7

' 1. A=display device of the type described comprisinga pair of conjoined angle mem- (LOO 

